Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) technique has been demonstrated an effective method in the treatment of lumbar disc diseases. Usually, pedicle screws need to be implanted with X-ray assistance to stabilize the spine after decompression in MIS-TLIF operation. Robot-assisted MIS-TLIF hasn’t been reported yet. Objectives: To find the difference and clinical effects of robot-assisted MIS-TLIF by comparing with X-ray assisted traditional MIS-TLIF in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. Methods: Altogether 32 patients was included this retrospective analysis, among which 12 cases underwent robot-assisted MIS-TLIF (Group Robot), 20 cases with traditional MIS-TLIF operation (Traditional Group). All the cases were carried out by the same surgery team. The operative time, intra-operative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI) and complications were recorded and compared between two groups. Further，postoperative computer tomography scans were checked to evaluate the accuracy of the implanted pedicle screws with the Gertzbein-Ｒobbins methods. The clinical outcomes were recorded with the MacNab criteria. Results All cases were followed up at least one month. Compared with traditional group, the Robot-assisted group cost shorter operative time (164.33±10.38min vs. 192.50±17.28min), less intra-operative blood(97.08±23.98 ml vs.127.50±21.00ml). Images of post-operative CT showed that the pedicle screws in the robot-assisted group were more precisely implanted than traditional group (χ2 = 5.485, p < 0.05). VAS score of Both Group had decreased dramatically, with no significant difference between two groups. Accordingly, ODI score had improved in both groups in the one month duration after surgery, also there were no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.16, p ＞0.05 ). Conclusions Robot-assisted MIS-TLIF own the same efficacy as traditional X-ray assisted operation in the treatment of single level degenerative lumbar diseases. This new technique can decrease the operation time and the intra-operative blood loss, but do not increase the perioperative complications.